Still or the like



May 248,- 1929- J. F. DO NNELLY 3,714,855

l STILL OR THE LIKE originalA Filed Jan. 25, 1926 s sheets-sheer 1 l MMSSS May'ZS, 1929. J. F. DONNELLY STILL OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 25, 1926 May 28, 1929. F DQNNELLY 1,714,855

STILL 0R THE LIKE `Original Filed Jan. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented May 28,- 1929.

AT T` `JOSEPH FRANCIS DONNELLY, OF LEMONT, ILLINOIS.

STILL oa THE LIKE.

Application led January-25, .1926, Serial No. 83,546. Renewed December 10i,` 1928.

y This invention relates to Ian apparatus for the Vconversion of hydrocarbon oil. More particularly it relates to a type of apparatusI known as a cracking still which is adapted to treat hydrocarbon oils under high pressure and heat.

An obj ect of my invent-ion is to provide an apparatus capable ofapplyingheat generated by combustion to a material which is preferably of "alrefractory nature vand capable of. absorbing said heat and emitting it in the form of radiant heat in such a manner as would raise said material to the temperature capable of eecting'an intense radiancy, but reducing the temperature by absorbing a part of the heat transmittedI to said material by heat interchange with a 'heat-absorbing fluid and subsequently efiectinga heat interchange betweenv the heat-absorbing fluid and the fluid which it is desired to finally heat. l

A further object is to `provide a structure capable of thoroughly mixing said heat-absorbing fluid with the gases of combustion so as to effect a heat interchange therewith and subsequently effect a heat interchange between said mixture and the fluid it is desired to finallyheat.

A further object is to provide a structure capable of effecting heat interchange between the gases of combustion and said heatabsorbing fluid before they are brought into physical contact with each other in such a manner as to raise the temperature of said heat-absorbing fluid to such a degree as will cause to rise by convection with the gases of combustion. I

A further object is-to provide a structure which will-separate the gases of combustion and heat-absorbing Huid intoa plurality of individual streams and effect a heat interchange between said gases and fluid by simultaneous, prolonged and separate Contact witha heat-conducting material and `subsequently bring said gases and fluid into physical contact and intermixture, and subsequent-ly applying the heat of said ntermixture to the means containing the fluid to be finally heated in an even and prolonged contact therewith.

The accompanying drawings are illustrative of an embodiment of my invention, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in cross section of my apparatus; l

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a cross sectionv on line 3 3, Fig. 1. 1 are the side walls of the still which in the form shown is a cracking still used in connection with conversion of hydrocarbon oils. 2 are combustion chambers which are of the oil burningvtype.l Oil burners are locatedat 3 which are inserted through passages 4.-. Air ducts 5 enter through the side walls 1l and 'lead underneath the combustion chambers 2 landdischarge into passages 4. `B`y this con'- I struction the air passes through ducts 5, and

receives a' preliminary heating and also ab-v sorbs heat from the bot-tom of the 'combustion chambersthat would otherwisebe dissipated and lost. Arches 6 are located at thel top 'of' combustion chambers 2 which are providedwith a plurality of passages 7 through which the gases of combustion pass. Above these arches 6 are a `plurality/of pairs of vertical walls 8 spaced so as to form passages 9 therebetween. Cross passages 10 at the upper end of the walls 8 intersect the passages 9. Cap pieces 11 are locatedon thetop of the walls 8 which form the top walls of the passages 10 and extend beyond the Walls 8. The passage 9 is sealed at the bottom of the walls 8 by part 12 ofthe arches 6. Passages 7 through the arches 6 communicate with the passages 13 formed between the pairs of walls 8. The cap pieces 11.are of such a size as 'to extend partly across the passages 13 leaving outlets 14 from the passages 13. The cross passages 10 communicate with the passages 13 at a point below the cap pieces 11.. Chambers 15 are located in the side walls 1 Ywhich are supplied with air through the valve-controlledinlets 16. Steam or any desirable heat-absorbing fluid may be applied to the chambers 15 through the valve-controlled inlets 17. By manipulation of the valves in the inlets 16 and 17 either of said sources of supply may be used separately or combined as desired. A series of passages 18 lead from the chambers 15 through the walls 1..to the lower ends of the passages 9 with which they communicate at the points 19. Control valves 20 are located in the passages 18. The arches and walls as described are preferably formed of refractory material in the shape of bricks or slabs as shown.

The mixture of heat-absorbing liquid and gases of combustion is delivered from the outlets 14 into the chamber 21 in the upper part of which `is located a continuous coil 22 through which the fluid which it is desired to heat passes. In the apparatus herein shown tends above the combustion chambers in bothV `sections and is centrally supported by the the structure is duplicated on'both sides of the wall 23 as shown in IFig. 1. The coil `22 exwall 23. The vcoil 22 isjcomprised of a plurality of tubes connected at the ends by return bends 24. The heated mixture of gases'and fluid is caused to follow .a tortuo'us path through the layers'of ltubes by means of aseries of baflle plates 25 projecting from the side walls 1in an alternate fashion. By this structure the hot gases and fluid are held in contact with the tubes for a suflicient length of time to effectually transmit their heaty to the ,fluid within the tubes.

For the purpose of conserving the heat for effective use within my apparatus, I employ a heat-insulating lining 28 combined with dead air spaces 29 inthe side walls 1.

`In operation the combustion 1n chambers'I 2wouldnormally heat the arches and super-V imposed walls to a temperature sufcient to emit an intense radiant heat, but `the introduction of the heat-absorbing fluid into andthrough the passages 9` absorbs the -portionof -said heat from the arches 6 and walls 8 by a prolonged contact therewith, thus reducing .their temperature so as to cause a'reduction ofthe radiant heat which would otherwise be emitted therefrom. The gases of combustion and heat-absorbing fluid are physically mixed' at'the intersection of passages 10 with thepassages I3 and after emerging from the outlets 14' are discharged into the lower portion of the chamber 21 wherein they undergo a thorough heat interchange and intermixture before arriving in contact with the coil 22. The heated mixture then passes around the convolutions of the coil 22 imparting heat therefrom to the fluid contained therein in an leven and efficient manner. Y My apparatus has the particular advantage that Ain place Aof intense radiant heatl being vapplied to the lower rows of tubes of the coil 22 in which the I)fluid therein cannot absorb the desired 'amount of heat in the short space of time it takes in passing through said lower rows,`it is transmitted to a large volume of fluid which passes around all of the' thecombination of a combustion chamber means for generating heat by combustion therein, said chamber having a top provided with passages therethrough, a plurality of pairs of separated walls extending upwardly froml said top of said chamber lforming passages between said pairs which passages connect with sai'd passages through said top so as to allow the gases of combustion to pass therethrough, said separated walls of each pair being spaced from each other Vso as to orm a passage therebetween adapted to allow a flow of heat-absorbing fluid therethrough, and a passage at the top of e'ach pair of walls adapted 'to conduct said heatabsorb ing fluid into said gases of combustion.

2. In an apparatus of the class described l the combination of a combustion chamber,

means for generating heat by combustion therein, said chamber havlng, a top provided with passages -therethrough, a` plurality of pairs of separatcdjwalls extend- `j ing upwardly from said top forming-passages between said` pairs which connect with said passages through said top so as 'to allow the gases of combustion to pass therethrough, top pieces positioned on the top of` each pair of walls extending partly across the passages between said pairs of walls, said separated walls of each pair being so spaced from eachother aslto forma passage therebetween adapted to allow av flow ofv heat-absorbing fluid therethrough and a passageatthe top of each pair of walls' adapted to conduct said heat-absorbing fluid into sai'd gases `of combustion prior to their escape through the openings betweensaid cap pieces'.v

Y3. In an apparatus of the classdescribed the combination of a combustion chamber having side walls provided-with passages i therein, and a top wall having passages there-` through adapted to allow the escape'ofthe i gases of combustion from said combustion chamber, a structure superimposed on :said top wall of said combustion chamber comprising a plurality of separated walls forming sets of passages therebetween, one set of passages being connected to said passages in said top wall of said combustion chamber and another set being connected to said passages in said side walls, means for supplying a heat-absorbing fluid to said passages in said side wallsand connected passages in said structure, said structure being provided with passages adapted' to conduct said heat-absorbing fluid into said gases of combustion,

and means for conducting the vmixture of combustion gases and heat-absorbing fluid thus formed into heat-exchanging' contact with a fluid to be heated.

4.',In an apparatus of the class described' the combination of a combustion chamber having side walls extending upwardlytherefrom, said side walls having a plurality of chambers therein and a plurality of passages extending upwardly from said chambers, said combustion chamber havinga top wall provided with passages therethrough adapted to allow the escape of the gases of 'combustion misses from said combustion chamber, a structure superimposed on said top Wall of said combustion chamber comprising a plurality of separated Walls forming sets of passages therebetween, one set of passages being connected to said passages in said top 'Wall and another set being connected to said passages leading upwardly from said chambers in said side Walls, means for supplying heat-absorbing fluid to said chambers and passages in said side walls and connected passages in said structure, said structure being provided'with passages adapted to conduct said heat-absorbing iiuid into said gases of combustion, and means for conducting the mixture ofcombusu tion gases land heat-absorbing fluid thus formed into heat-exchanging contact with a iuid to be heated.,

5. In an apparatus of tbe class described the combination of a combustion chamber having side Walls extending upwardly therefrom, said side Walls baring a plurality of chambers tberein and a piurality of passages extending upwardly from said chambers bauing duid-controlling vaives therein, said cornbastion chamber 'having a top Wall provided with passages therethrough adapted yto allow the escape of the gases of combustion from said combustion chamber, a structure superimposed on said top Wall of said combustion chamber comprising a plurality oi? separated Walls-,forming sets of passages therebetween,

one set of passages being connected to said passages in said top Wall and another set-being connected to said passages leading up-4 conducting the mixture of combustion gases andheat-absorbing iuid tlius formed into heat-exchanging Contact with a uid to be heated.

Signed at Chicago, lllinois, this 18th day of January, 1926,

JOSEPH FRANCS DNNELLY. 

